I can't get Sober to sound right...is it just me?

I have been working real hard and practicing constantly trying to get good. I am able to play pretty much every Tool song note for note, but I still can't seem to figure out tones for some songs. A lot of songs I add some extra mid, and I use the rear pickup (whatever thats called) to get that real twangy kinda sound. Sober is a song that just drives me nuts, I know he slaps it, and then slaps muted notes, but I can't get it to sound anything like the album version, or the live version. What should my EQ be set to and all that stuff? Also, on a song like Schism, I can get it to sound pretty accurate, but there is a little bit of a, bright shimmery kinda sound on the higher notes. Any tricks to that? ANyway, just figured I'd consult the pros, adios thanks for any help. (mostly concerned with Sober here

Originally posted by FearOfGodX I have been working real hard and practicing constantly trying to get good. I am able to play pretty much every Tool song note for note, but I still can't seem to figure out tones for some songs. A lot of songs I add some extra mid, and I use the rear pickup (whatever thats called) to get that real twangy kinda sound. Sober is a song that just drives me nuts, I know he slaps it, and then slaps muted notes, but I can't get it to sound anything like the album version, or the live version. What should my EQ be set to and all that stuff? Also, on a song like Schism, I can get it to sound pretty accurate, but there is a little bit of a, bright shimmery kinda sound on the higher notes. Any tricks to that? ANyway, just figured I'd consult the pros, adios thanks for any help. (mostly concerned with Sober here

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slapping it is your first problem

he plays very hard with a pick, and he uses a little distortion to get it crunchier sounding

he also uses a Rickenbacker, which has a very unique sound, so thats part of your problem.... try adding mids to make it honkier sounding

I play tool almost exactly like the CD...if my mic was hooked up and not in 20 pieces i'd hook you up with a recording of myself.

Here's what i do:
Squier P-Bass plus Ernie Ball Power Slinky 110-55 strings in drop D tuning.
Tune almost like a smily face - keep some mids - mids are important, but in Sober Bass/Treble combo are more important.

On the bass though I go to full tone, to get the fat tone. Slight distortion and chorus help too.

For picking (I use a .80mm all the time) its important to mute the lowD-D-and G strings at the 6 fret as to not hit any harmonics when you strum, hitting the D note at the A-5th fret, but still hitting every string in each up and down stroke.

I always use to play it with a pick, and got very close to his sound. The intro is a chord, and he alternates between picking, then muting the strings and picking up and down to get that chucka-chucka sound.